Automatic stacking or boxing machine.



3. H. LIENAU & WQ SIEENKEN.

AUOMATIC STACKING GR BGXING MACHiNE.

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1,208,803. Patented De.19,1916.

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AUTDMATIG STACKING 0R BOXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 9. m5.

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' TTRNEY 1. H. LIENAU I w. STEENKEN. AUTOMATIC STACKING 0R BOXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. ISIS. .1 ,208,803. Patented Dee. 19,1916.

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" l /NvfNroHs @as Afl/@M40 TTORNEY respectively, have invented certain.

useful Improvements in Automatic Stack- Y UNITED STATES PATENT oEiuoE. r

JACOB H. LIENAU AND WILLIAM STEENKEN, OF NEW YORK, N; fY.; SAID LIENAU ASSIGNOR 0F AHISv ONE-HALF TO THE NATIONAL SUGAR BEFINING CO.` OF NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC STACKING OR BOXING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters '.Patent.v

Appnctin fuea september s, 1915. seria1No.49,s9s.

To all whom t may concern.'

.Be it known that we,JAooB H. LIE-NAU and WILLIAM STEENEEN, citizens of the United States of America, and residents ot the borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, and the borough of Queens, county of Queens, and State of New York, new and ing or Boxing Machines, of which the following is a specification.'

This invention relates to automatic stacking or boxing machines, especially for the packing of sugar tablets or other such uniformly shaped articles, in predetermined quantities.

An object of the invention is to provide automatic means whereby such articles may accurately, speedily and eifectually packed in uniform piles number, the various operations being controlled by a single movement of the operator.

A further object is to provide such adevice by which the-sugar will remain in a clean and sanitary condition, and which will be simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view, our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side sectional View of our improved machine in one position of movement; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the other position of movement, the machine being in position to receive the sugar from the chute; Fig. 3

Yis a rear view showing the operating handle Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, our improved device is arranged at the lower end of a chute 10, which is divided into a plurality of guides, runs or gutters 11 by means Fig. 2.

of a predetermined tal plane, the guiding strips 12 continuing` across the top of the pile forming box'portion 13. A platform 14 is secured atthe side of the said box portion by means of a bracket 15, the upper surface of the platform being Patented Dec. 19, 1916. l

flush with al slotted portion 16 in 'the side of the box, ahorizontal plate 17 being supported thereon, which is adapted to bev ,slid through thel said slot beneath theA strips 12 during the filling operation, as indicated in A block 18 at the end of the latform limits the outward movement o the plate- 17.

The sugar is receivedin the pile forming box portion 13 within a removable holder comprising two sections 13 and 13", which fit together and form a metallic box open at both ends and the top. This holder is placed in the pile forming box through the `open side thereof, and is positioned on a follower or false bottom 61.` Supportingmembers 19 reciprocatingly supported beneath the Asaid 90 cross bar 21 by means of plunger rods 23 and -24 extending through holes 25 and 26 in the said bar, the enlarged ends 23a and 24a of the said rods being provided with bearings in which are journaled the ends of the eccentric axis 27 of an eccentric cam member 28. Expansion springs 29 and 3() are .arranged on the said rods 23 and24f between the. cross bar 21 and the member 22, which continually hold the eccentric member 28 in engagement with the cross bar, so that by movement of the same the stop memberu`22 is raised and iowered, in its'lowered position engaging by means of its friction surface of soft rubber or the like 31 the lowermost row of sugar in member 22. An arm is also the chute to arrest the flow of the remaining sugar therein, during the lowering operation of the sugar in the pile forming box, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

An operating handle 32 is provided on the said eccentric member, which upon movement from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 releases the stop member 22 from .the sugar and permits the same to iow from the chute into the pile forming box. The foremost tablets of the various streams strike a movable abutment 33, which is guided in a block 34 at the outer end of the strip 12, and is moved by rotation of an eccentric cam 35,

'which engages squared portions 36 of the said movable abutment. For operating the said cam `an arm 37 is provided thereon, which is connected by the adjustable rod 38 to a slotted arm provided on the eccentric Vcam member 28. In the thrown-back position of the o erating handle 32 shown in Fig. 2, the sald abutment member is moved inwardly `and the sugar within the pile forming box is held compactly against the abutment. During `the first part of the movement of the said operating handle forwardly to the position shown 1n Fig. 1, the slotted arm 39 permits the stop or arresting member 22 to descend upon thel foremost row of sugar in the chute, as above pointed out, and arrests the flow of the sugar therein. As the handle is moved farther forwardly, the end of the slot in the said arm 39 engages the end of the rod 38 moving the same forwardly and through the cam 35, causing the abutment member to be moved outwardly and loosening the contact between the sugar within the box. Without the said abutment, the tablets within the box would be clamped between the front wall of the same and the tablets held arrested by the provided on the eccentric member 28,'which 1s connected by meansA of a link 41 with an upwardly extending arm 42 provided on a shaft 43 supported at the ends ofthe members 19 and 20, so that by movement of the eccentric member by the handle forwardly or backwardly, corresponding rotary movement is imparted to the said shaft. A second shaft 44 is supported between the said members 19 and 20 at a pointabove the shaft 43, and a downwardly eatending arm 45 is provided thereon, which is connected by means of a link 46 with the arm 42 of the shaft 43, so that as the said arm is moved in one direction by movement of the shaft 43, rotary move-l are connected by amrod 49, which supportsA by means of the rods 50. and 51 a pusher block 52, which is comb-shaped or slotted, as

shown in 5, to permit movement of the same between the strips 12 at the outer end of the chute.

Lifting arms 53 and 54 are provided on l the shaft 44 extending rearwardly thereported upon a pillar 62 operating through -dan opening 63 in the vbottom of the pile forming box and provided' with ratchet teeth 64, and is lowered step byvstep as the layers are filled into the box, each step, it will be 'under-stood, being' equal to the height of a tablet. For bringing about this movement, a vrocker arm 65 is provided on the end of the shaft 44, which is caused to be moved upwardly when the handle 32 is thrown forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. An angular-bar 66 is pivotally secured to the said arm, and

'at its lower end is connected to a lever 67 pivoted at 678L to the U-shaped frame 68, and an adjustable contact pin 69 on the outer end of the same engages beneath a plate 7 0 of an elbow lever 71 pivoted to the supporting lugs 72 arranged on the inner side of the said frame. A tension spring 73 is arranged between the point 74 of the said lever and the point 75 of the frame. :Ihe downwardly extending arm 76 of the said lever is formed 4of two parallel strips of sheet metal, as

shown in Fig. 4, the lower ends thereof being bent `forwardly and the outer edges inclined and bent inwardly, as at 77 and 78. These turned-in edges 77 and "78 engage a series of pins 79, in one position of movement, extending at each side of the pillar` 62, and which are arranged in relative position to the notches 64. At the other position `of movement, and after the platform or follower has dropped one space, a toothed member 80, spaced from the inclined edges 77 and 7 8, and provided between the two parallel strips forming the arm 76, engages the teeth 64, thereby preventing further downward movement of the said follower. The operation of this device in lowering the follower is as follows: lvlhen the handle 32 is in the position shown in Fig. '1, the rocher arm 65 is in its uppermost position, and the outer end of the lever 67 is in its lowered position, thereby causing the toothed mem-` ber 80 of the elbow lever 71by force of the spring 7 3 to engage one of the teeth 64. As

.the handle 32 1s moved rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, the rockerv arm `is lowered, causing the outer end of the lever 67 to be lifted, and the toothed member 80 is gradually moved out of engagement with 5 the ratchet teeth 611, and at the same time 1 0 79 and retain the lfollower in supported position. When the handle 32 is again thrown forwardly, the rocker arm is raised and the arm 76 -of the elbow lever 70 is moved inwardly, the inclined edges .77 and 78 per. mitting thefollower to lower by its own weight, the tooth 80, as above pointed out, being free of the ratchet teeth. As this movement is continued the toothed member 80 moves inwardly toward the next ratchet tooth, and at the end of the movement engages the same, stoppingthe downward movement of the follower, after the same has fallen for a distance equal to the height of the tablets'of sugar.

' The U-shaped frame 68 is jointed at 90, the pillar 62 operating through an opening 91 therein. The lower end of the pillar is connected by means `of a link 92 with one arm of an elbow lever 93 pivoted at 94 to the standard 95, the other end lthereof being connected by meansof a link 96 with the upwardly extending arm97 of a pedal member 98 pivoted at 99 to a supporting lug 100. When the follower 6,1 reaches its lowermost position and it is desired to again raise the same, this pedal member 98 is depressed,

causingthe follower ,to move to its uppermost position, the teeth 64 ofthe pillar ,62'

riding over the toothed portion 80. Y

The operation of our improved device is as follows z-Referring to Fig. 1, in which the mechanism is lshown 1n the position at the end of packingl three layers of sugar, the

follower' 61 having at the beginning of the operation been at the upper extremity of its movement fiush with the chute l0, is suce' cessively lowered three spaces. For receiv.

ing the fourth layer, the horizontal plate 17 is moved into position within the pile forming box,being nowsupported upon the third layer of sugar,'an the handle 32 is thrownback tothe position shown in Fig. 2, causing the movable abutment member v33 to move inwardly', the pusher blocks 52 and 58 to be raised out of the path of the channels 11, the arresting device122to beflifted out of engagement with the first row of sugar in the chute', and the follower actuating mechanism to assume fthe position shownl in Figl 2, the follower remaining fixed. The sugar then slides into the channels 11 within the pile forming box, by the weight of the sugar inthe chute, the foremost row engaging the movable abut- 65 ment 33 and stopping the io'w, whereupon the horizontal plate 17 is removed and the top layer of sugar is ready to beV lowered out of the path of the next succeeding layer. The handle 32 is moved forwardly, causing thearrestin device 22 todescend upon the first row o sugar in the chute, the mov able abutment ,ismoved out of engagement with the foremost row of sugar in the box by movement of the cam 35 in the block 34, thereby loosening. the contact between the sugarvin the box, the follower is dropped one space upon being released by the lever 71, and the pusher blocks 52 and 58 are forced downwardly upon -the end rows of sugar in the box ,'.and the upper layer drops upon. the third layer. The horizontal plate 17 is again placed in the box and the handle thrown back, whereuponthe machine is may have to stick.

` We have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory forms of our-invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

.We claim i 1. A device of the character described., comprising a stationary chute for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from the said chute,arresting les means at .the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, mea-ns adapted'to be operated to actuate the said arresting means to engage the lowermost row of articles in the chute to arrest the flow ofthe remaining articles therein duringremoval of a layer of said articles from the (path of the next layer 'abutment means a apted to engage the foremost row of articles in the sa-1d vpile forming mechanism, means for moving said abutment means out of engagement with the said foremost row of sugar, a

slotted arm on said means for actuating the arresting means, and means connecting said slotted arm with said means for actuating the abutment means for causing the same to be actuated after the actuation of the said arresting mea-ns. y

A2,. A` device of the character described, comprising a stationary-chute for iding inre lar order articles to be packe a pile forrnmg'mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of -most row of articles in the said pile form ing mechanism, means coperating with said means for moving said abutment means out of engagement with said foremost row of sugar after the arresting means has been actuated, pusher blocks supported above the tablets in the said pile forming mechanism, raising and lowering means adapted to move the same upwardly and downwardly in the said pile forming mechanism, and to engage the end rows of sugar therein to cause the same to be lowered, and means connecting the saidzraising and lowering means with the saidmeans for actuating the arresting means, to cause the said raising and lowering means to be actuated by movement of the said means for actuating the arresting means. Y

3. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary chute for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from said chute, arresting means at the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said arresting means to engage the lowermost row of articles in the chute to arrest the How of the remaining articles therein during removal of a layer of said articles from the path of the next layer, pusher blocks. supported above the tablets in .the said fiile forming mechanism, raising and lowering means adapted to move the said pusher blocks upwardly and downwardly in the said pile forming 'mechanism and toengage the end rows of tablets there in to cause the samer to be lowered and means connecting the said raising and lowering means with the said means for actuating the arresting means to cause the said raising and lowering means to e actuated b v movement of the said means for actuating the arresting means.

Il. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary chute for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chut e adapted to receive successive Vlayers of articles to be packed from said chute and provided with channels in which streams of the saidiarticlesrare uided, arresting means at the entrance endg of said pile forming A mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said arrestin means to engage -the;lcwermost *row of articles in the chute to arrest the fiow of the remaining articles therein during removal of a layer of said articles from the path of the next layer, )usher blocks supported above the articles in the said pile forming mechanism and provided with a plurality of projections adapted to engage the channels thereof, raising and lowering means adapted to move the said pusher blocks upwardly and downwardly in the said pile forming mechanism to engage the end rows of tablets therein to cause the same to be lowered, and means connecting the said raising and' lowering means with the said means for actuating the arresting means to cause the said raising and lowering means to be actuated by movement of the said means for actuating the arresting means. l

5. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary chute for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from the said chute, arresting means at the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said arresting means to engage the lowermost row of articles in the chute to arrest the flow of the remaining ar vticles therein during removal of a layer has been actuated, pusher blocks supported above the' tablets in the said pile forming mechanism, raising and lowering means adapted to move the same 4upwardly and downwardly in the said pile formingmechanism, and to engage the end rows of sugar therein to cause the same to' be lowered, and means connecting the said raising and lowering means with the said means for actuat-r ing the arresting means, to cause thesaid raising and lowering means to be actuated by movement of the said means for actuat-V in the arresting means, and a follower '1n said pile forming mechanism adapted to be lowered step by step as the said means for actuating the said arresting means isoperated,

6. A device of the character described,

4comprising a stationary chute for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a' pile forming mechanism at the lower end ofsaid chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from said chute, said articles adapted to flow in an unbroken line from said chute to said pile forming mechanism, arresting means at the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, means adapted' to be operated to actuate the said arresting means to engage the lowermost row of articles in the chute to arrest the iow of the remaining articles therein during removal of a layer of said articles from thepath of the next layer, a follower in said pile forming mechainsm adapted to support the layers of articles therein, means for lowering the same Step by step, and means for actuating the said lowering means adapted to be actuated by the operation of the said means for actuating the arresting means.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary chute for Cguiding in regular order articles to be packe a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from said chute, said articles adapted to flow in an unbroken line from said chute to said pile forming mechanism, arresting means at the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said varresting means to engage the lowermost row of ar- .ticles in the chute to arrest the flow of the remaining articles therein during removal of a layer ofsaid articles from the next layer, a follower in said pile forming mechanism adapted tosupport the layers of articles therein, means for lowering the same step by step, and means for actuating'the said lowering means adapted to beactuated by the operation of the said means for actuating the arrestin means, andmeans for raising the said fol ower at the end of its downward Inovement.A A

8. A device of the character described,

comprising a stationary chute for guiding .in

regular order` articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from said chute, arresting means at the entrance end of said Ipile forining mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said arresting` means to engage the lowermost row of artlcles in the chute to arrest the iow of the remaining articles therein during removal of a layer of the said articles from the path of the next layer, a follower in said pile forming mechanism adapted to support the layers of arA ticles therein, a pillar supporting the said follower and provided with ratchet teeth and pins, a pawl provided with a tooth adapted to engage said ratchet teeth in one position of movement, and inclined surfaces adapted to engage the pins in the other position of movement when the said tooth is disengaged from the ratchet teeth, and means for operatin the said pawl actuated by the movement o the said means for actuating the arresting'device to lower the said follower step by step. i

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB H. LIENAU. p .WILLIAM STEENKEN. Witnesses:

D. Lewis MA'rrERN, Jos. BIsBANo. 

